tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120594542024-03-19T00:30:31.385-07:00Haley's CornerIf you can throw a ball, you're alright with me.Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-52201371926555020552008-01-18T18:06:00.000-08:002008-01-18T16:10:03.706-08:00TWA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauzMF7M-LVYFNviPShSlL9bIrX6BIguHnGFHzxbzd2A6MtwbnER4JCjx6d-yRbTEFYDrF81ZHEUOVJy2dHuaf-rPnopDI9p8M40nZ_xRzYwt00WdWcdPzISD2ChuUb8rKaLkbaw/s1600-h/100_2786.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauzMF7M-LVYFNviPShSlL9bIrX6BIguHnGFHzxbzd2A6MtwbnER4JCjx6d-yRbTEFYDrF81ZHEUOVJy2dHuaf-rPnopDI9p8M40nZ_xRzYwt00WdWcdPzISD2ChuUb8rKaLkbaw/s320/100_2786.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156968834259587362" /></a><br />"Hello, my name is Haley and I’m a tail wagger." <br /><br />“Hello Haley.”<br /><br />--------------------------------------------<br /><br />The Day of Enlightenment has come. That is what I like to call it. <em>The Day of Enlightenment.</em> (Echo, echo, echo...) If we dogs were allowed to feel guilt, then I might have called it, "The Day I Knew What Guilt Was." But we don't. So I didn't.<br /><br />My tail. My lovely, waggy, happy, long and strappy tail! The very part of me that I never pay attention to. Unless it has an itch. My tail. <br /><br />Puppies, we have tails. Short, strong, curly, stubby, lengthy, unforgiving, rudimentary, controlled by emotion…tails. They go and go. They wag and wag. While they go and while they wag, they supposedly are potential trouble causers. At least mine is. Subsequently, wherever I go, or more appropriately, wherever I have been, trouble travels close behind.. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfrYMjO-KwI6tiFQR5TImn4IQhGg7NSYhtVI0W79pCG3UFL2O4gyy81cqnbV5Mc4cRld9j0N-LyFnR3OG1vGcqYi3GBvf32Z49S_hHjODaqOdhmnwQHrnSegty1WAdcOuHknFvQ/s1600-h/100_2765.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfrYMjO-KwI6tiFQR5TImn4IQhGg7NSYhtVI0W79pCG3UFL2O4gyy81cqnbV5Mc4cRld9j0N-LyFnR3OG1vGcqYi3GBvf32Z49S_hHjODaqOdhmnwQHrnSegty1WAdcOuHknFvQ/s320/100_2765.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156970964563366194" /></a><br />My tail has left traces of broken knickknacks, spilled coffee cups and wine glasses. Apparently my tail alone is the reason why there are no cute little things on low tables in our house. Apparently, my tail... is the reason why my Sidekick is quick to pick up glasses as soon as I even THINK of passing near her. Apparently my tail is the reason that my sidekick's nephew, puts up his hands and turns his body away from me when I come near him...(when I am only just so happy to see him)...screaming and laughing "The tail! Owe! Haley's tail got me!"<br /><br />My entire life, I never paid attention to my tail. Why would I? It’s BEHIND ME!!! Of course there are the times when it itches…(I believe I mentioned this previously, but it's a point worth making twice) I have to bite it to stop the itching. Then there is the <em>consideration tuck </em>that I do when I am hopping up on the couch to sit next to the sidekick and instead of swatting her in the face with it, I turn and tuck it as to not hit her. It’s the one thing I must have learned as a small pup. Who wants to hurt their sidekicks? Not me!<br /><br />My tail has a little swirl on its’ end. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqavUsweKacIj1pzxRSLR1PXRvHpr-tezubcnALS8uxvFtkT-0GolunQd3HAUQ_ihZkkpWACx5yi0x6APho9Wvaj9jvy3G_mFYvau9Ad_pshMCKyxpHpYRljWK-BZbhp5Kjvw5kg/s1600-h/the+hat+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqavUsweKacIj1pzxRSLR1PXRvHpr-tezubcnALS8uxvFtkT-0GolunQd3HAUQ_ihZkkpWACx5yi0x6APho9Wvaj9jvy3G_mFYvau9Ad_pshMCKyxpHpYRljWK-BZbhp5Kjvw5kg/s320/the+hat+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156972721204990290" /></a><br /><br />It is my rudder in the water. It catches burrs in the woods. Ouchiee! But besides all these wonderful qualities, it also (and without my consent by the way) swats young children in the chest, head and arms. Bats adults in the shins and knees. Sends breakable objects flying off of coffee tables and other low lying areas. In one whip of it, it machetes’leaves right off of plants! It's true! My lovely, slightly swirly tipped tail, (that is like no other mind you)..has been causing havoc my entire life! And on a regular basis! Almost weekly! And I didn't know about it!!<br /><br />Since I was a young puppy, I remember looking at small and cute knickknacky things on the shorter tables. I liked them. One by one, things started moving from my immediate view...i.e. out of line with what would be the direct and immediate path of my tail.<br /><br /><br />So. The Day of Enlightenment comes. What do I do next? How do I come to terms and go forward knowing full well my tails’ history as well as it’s potential ...AND the possible damage that is to come? Well, come closer puppies... and I will tell you exactly how! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHDLfOHriPI7VFXWOWKg0fh3t_VgjynPeWj8SxV8UGs-DbVqkCEY6w3S4xSXogjmA350C9Ofb9CXN106x_X4B6akzmOjutECUHVgFdNAaLde2DPO6WFgxs5Ira2d7MHlqhkVBug/s1600-h/the+hat+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHDLfOHriPI7VFXWOWKg0fh3t_VgjynPeWj8SxV8UGs-DbVqkCEY6w3S4xSXogjmA350C9Ofb9CXN106x_X4B6akzmOjutECUHVgFdNAaLde2DPO6WFgxs5Ira2d7MHlqhkVBug/s320/the+hat+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156971965290746178" /></a><br /><br /><br />Last week I attended my first TWA meeting. (That’s <strong>Tail Waggers Anonymous </strong>for all you puppies not in the know.) I attended it to not necessarily correct any future behavior, but more importantly, to come to terms with and forgive the actions of my previous tail past. Ignorance is bliss my puppies. Ignorance is bliss. But now that the bliss is substituted with non-bliss and the ignorance is substituted with knowledge....action must take place on my behalf to right my world somehow.<br /><br />The meeting was held at the corner of where my fence becomes my neighbors' fence. I had overheard in the past few years, puppies at dog parks, mentioning TWA meetings and how they had helped them restore the confidence they needed to get back their 'puppyness'. That free<em> spirited, blissfull unawareness of any bad or accidental</em> thing that may cross their path...type of feeling.<br /><br />A mini-Schnauzer and myself constituted the meeting. I cannot say what was discussed. But I can tell you this. After some doggy tears, head hanging and sharing...followed by the sniff and tackle (which I believe is thrown in there just to wrap things up,) I felt considerably more secure about tail - things that have been on my mind lately. (Or has it been a year or a day?...I'm not sure.)<br /><br />But puppies! I found a bit more peace and security in my puppyness. And that is the most important fact no?<br /><br />In regards to my tail?<br /><br />The Day of Enlightenment has come, and gone….in peace. Like my tail, I leave it behind.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-41874072760182343712007-12-21T14:37:00.000-08:002007-12-21T12:40:16.269-08:00Snow Days and Holly Days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpza6iVjQYVnTbYLcdqpeo8GYzs88QG1DtmcuoUBEFC_S0BvqVXT4vwr9DdRNjYh9NUX9eEv8DxjY6kZEaIGcfMpTBZyI20-3RHzoJvFfKalVVYF6mh-YkAUvcdE-Ko-19lEEVg/s1600-h/100_2768.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpza6iVjQYVnTbYLcdqpeo8GYzs88QG1DtmcuoUBEFC_S0BvqVXT4vwr9DdRNjYh9NUX9eEv8DxjY6kZEaIGcfMpTBZyI20-3RHzoJvFfKalVVYF6mh-YkAUvcdE-Ko-19lEEVg/s320/100_2768.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146527824597586194" /></a><br /><br />Happy Snow Days all you most wonderful puppies! May you all have a wonderful weekend and remember to share your treats. It just feels good to do it.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-58264837613043117642007-12-18T21:43:00.000-08:002007-12-19T14:43:00.960-08:00Little Bally Girl "Little Drummer Boy" Christmas Carol #2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2nZ2UELdrww87BFP6NvWBM7grSEClQs85jFg3rtMmty2q-VaJY0Emu8bUTkPx1mcsBLllcJQ7cZwzb5g4M2U8jJ-QKislUZ9COgwwgm0vUk5BztuP1CtC-KJGW3cFbA2dGObjQ/s1600-h/newball.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2nZ2UELdrww87BFP6NvWBM7grSEClQs85jFg3rtMmty2q-VaJY0Emu8bUTkPx1mcsBLllcJQ7cZwzb5g4M2U8jJ-QKislUZ9COgwwgm0vUk5BztuP1CtC-KJGW3cFbA2dGObjQ/s320/newball.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145516492943364354" /></a><br /><br />A stack of green you see.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /><br />A new can of them for me.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /><br />The one that's on her knee.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /><br />The sidekick looks at me.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /><br />So to bounce and chase.. the<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /><br />At the pa - a - ark.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /><br />Baby balls are great.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /><br />They are small but fun.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /><br />I have so many balls.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /><br />That I would give myself.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /><br />Shall you bounce for me?<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /><br />On my floor!<br /><br />Mary nodded.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /><br />The Sidekick too kept time.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /><br />I waited patiently .<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /><br />It bounced its' best for me.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /><br />Then it rolled to me.<br />Ba ba ba ba ball.<br /> <br />Me and my ball.<br /><br />Me and my ball.<br /><br />-----------------------------------------<br /><br />(Photo by Auntie TK)<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-15494906506093643172007-12-17T20:59:00.000-08:002007-12-19T14:45:50.818-08:00Christmas Carols - Haley Style...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOjNWmAh5bkEIrZy-jsrsSWcEiE1EgZoSXUgYEli8rWw-nX4dGpWemyi_1cgy9GodOMgot5m6sjAe9qXuhe7LPEMYICeP38Y0wHrm9LGq5NOM8k11fIbXpPMBTTWnQwiIpYxkhg/s1600-h/100_2860.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOjNWmAh5bkEIrZy-jsrsSWcEiE1EgZoSXUgYEli8rWw-nX4dGpWemyi_1cgy9GodOMgot5m6sjAe9qXuhe7LPEMYICeP38Y0wHrm9LGq5NOM8k11fIbXpPMBTTWnQwiIpYxkhg/s320/100_2860.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145147095691137250" /></a><br />My sidekick has been playing ridiculous amounts of Christmas carols lately...which happens every year and it's okay with me! Bing Crosby seems to be played the most...per usual. Here is my own version (because you know how songs get stuck in my head and then it just becomes a doggy tune.) The song is a classic. Just like my sidekick. I hope you enjoy it. BTW, how do you like my tree? See the balls under there? Huh? See those? Those bad boys are mine. :)<br /><br />Here is your sing-along option...if you like. Just copy and paste in your browser. sing with Bing!<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3rJX3U9yM8 <br /><br /><br /><strong>It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas</strong><br /><br />I’m beginning to lose a lot of my balls.<br />Everywhere I go.<br />Apparently it isn’t hard<br />Just look in my big back yard.<br />This morning I found two <br />beneath the snow!<br /><br />I’m beginning to miss a lot of my balls.<br />(My balls)<br />Smelly, fuzzy ones.<br />But the balls that I miss the most,<br />are the ones I swear I left<br />by my own front door.<br /><br />A trip to the dog park<br />So I could smell and I would bark<br />At the lab who took one away.<br />Go for a walk<br />To the end of the block<br />Where I’d find the one that I laid<br />Between the shrub<br />Or near the oak<br />I really cannot say.<br /><br />I’m beginning to locate some of my balls.<br />Even around the house.<br />There was one underneath the bed.<br />It used to be white and red.<br />But now it’s black and furry just like meeeeee.<br /><br />I’m beginning to wish I had some new balls.<br />With that new ball smelllllll.<br />But there will be the old I find<br />But long after Christmas time<br />Right within our yard.<br /><br /><em>Instrumental break<br />Feel free to break into a Fred Astaire dance here</em><br /><br />I’m beginning to wonder about my balls.<br />Soon the snow will melt.<br />Right now, the prettiest sight to see<br />Is the ball on my Christmas tree <br />Near my own front door.<br />Yeah it’s Christmas <br />Once more.<br /><br />Happy Holidays Puppies!!!<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-48459892688337658272007-11-18T17:30:00.000-08:002007-11-18T15:56:25.331-08:00Puppy Got Ball<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7gGeNu4d_V6X4BigTSZnk5V-BLdWLsJt5pP9QfLaLiXspcA5HavLCIM4lpoX4SEuooe-iQJM5Ha5xk7cUrt1kJzkmnrxbnMrDC0DcnbJT6z2sU3YkDT9Exkcq8BbQ99qWULloQ/s1600-h/h3.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7gGeNu4d_V6X4BigTSZnk5V-BLdWLsJt5pP9QfLaLiXspcA5HavLCIM4lpoX4SEuooe-iQJM5Ha5xk7cUrt1kJzkmnrxbnMrDC0DcnbJT6z2sU3YkDT9Exkcq8BbQ99qWULloQ/s320/h3.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134309954973675330" /></a><br /><br />PUPPY WARNING....the following song has been adapted from a much less "puppy-friendly" original version of this song. Please be aware that no matter how much this is truly a <em>safe for puppy</em> version NOW...the original version of the song that I have included as a youtube video is NOT PUPPY FRIENDLY.) If you wish to sing along to this song, copy and paste the following html into another browser. Enjoy!<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktzvNvYReMo<br />--------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Puppy Got Ball<br /><br />I like new balls and I can not lie<br />You other puppies can't deny<br />That when your sidekick walks in with an itty bitty bag <br />And a round ball in your face<br />You get sprung, wanna be all tough<br />Acting like that ball ain’t stuffed<br />Out of the pockets the sidekicks’ wearing<br />I'm hooked and I can't stop staring<br /><br />Oh tennis ball, I wanna get wit'cha <br />And just go fetch ya <br />Other puppies tried to warn me <br />But that ball right there just really warms me<br />Ooh, yellow and green skin<br />I know my sidekick is my friend<br />Well, throw it, you know it <br />'Cause I ain't the average puppy.<br /><br />I've seen the begging <br />To heck with the barking.<br />They’re round. Great.<br />Got it goin' on like it’s my fate.<br />I'm tired of squeaky toys<br />Taken the place of my yellow joy<br />Take the average black lab and ask her that<br />The ball’s gotta be all that<br /><br />So, puppies! (Yeah!) Puppies! (Yeah!)<br />Has your sidekick got the ball? (Heck yeah!)<br />Tell them to throw it! (Throw it!) Throw it! (Throw it!)<br />Throw that tennis ball!<br />Puppy got ball<br />(Minnesota live with the rappin’ labby)<br />(Minnesota live with the rappin’ labby)<br /><br />Puppy got ball<br />(Minnesota live with the rappin’ labby)<br />(Minnesota live with the rappin’ labby)<br /><br /><br />I like 'em round, and new<br />And when you’re throwin, it’s true<br />I just can't help myself, I'm actin' like an animal<br />Now here's my scandal<br />I want get them home<br />And joy! Double-up, joy, joy.<br />I ain't talkin' bout kong toys<br />'Cause rubber parts are made for noise.<br /><br />I want 'em real new and yellow<br />So find that color that’s mellow<br />Haley’s in no trouble<br />Not beggin' for a bit of that kibble<br />So I'm lookin' at Eukaneuba dog show<br />watchin' those puppies walkin' like pros<br />You can have them squeekies<br />I'll keep my ball cause I know<br /><br />A word to the mixed up puppies, I wanna help ya<br />I won't bark or sniff ya<br />But I gotta be straight when I say I wanna fetch<br />Til the break of dawn<br />The balls got it goin' on<br />A lot of pups won't like this song<br />'Cause them pups like to hide it and leave it<br />And I'd rather stay and play<br /><br />'Cause I'm bored and I’m young <br />And I'm down to get the fetching on<br />So, puppies! {Yeah!} Puppies! {Yeah}<br />If you wanna play with those tennis balls! {Yeah!}<br />Then turn around! Stick around!<br />Even older puppies got to shout<br />Puppy got ball!<br /><br />Puppy got ball!<br /><br />Yeah, puppies... when it comes to tennis balls, <br />colors’ got nothin' to do with my selection. <br />Orange, Red, Green…<br />ha ha, only if there’s no yellow to be seen.<br /><br />So your sidekicks rolls a kong toy<br />thinkin’ that might bring you some joy<br />I bet your sidekicks got a tennis ball in the back of her Honda<br />This lab puppy don't want none <br />Unless you've got balls, pup<br />You can do long naps or throw ups, <br />But please don't lose that ball<br /><br />Some puppies wanna play that squeaky yo <br />And tell you that the ball ain't gold<br />So they toss it and leave it<br />And I pull up quick to <em>retrieve </em>it<br />So sidekick says that’s that<br />But you ain’t down with that!<br />'Cause your needs are small and your clock is tickin’<br />And you’re thinkin' bout stickin’<br /><br />To the squeekies laying on your rug:<br />But they ain't it, Miss Thing!<br />Give me a ball, I can't resist it<br />Red mud and stink didn't miss it<br />Some other pup tried to dis<br />'Cause they knows they can’t resist<br />He had balls but he chose to ignore them <br />So I pulled up quick to get wit 'em<br /><br />So puppies, if the ball is round,<br />And you want to fetch till the sun goes down,<br />Dial 1-800-THROW-A-BALL<br />And leave those squeaky toys<br />Puppy got ball!<br /><br />Little gray on the snout <br />But the pups got ball<br />Little short in the legs<br />But the pups got ball<br />Little toys on the ground<br />But the pups got ball<br />Little kitties like yarn <br />But the pups got ball<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-68787218378562111262007-11-13T19:12:00.000-08:002007-11-13T19:32:21.313-08:00Abstract Love<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhfgIDAj8LXfd5fyi44-v4def4B-tUBKJgPCW8p_tnDnIDMeipNeeV60y2IpwLoZaSESduO0Rfxfsko3Ynm0sLVvqUwmEcOSNWNKOgBBpSQZ-wRLhAT8bSHAP8wCnlGQnSRM19g/s1600-h/100_2367.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhfgIDAj8LXfd5fyi44-v4def4B-tUBKJgPCW8p_tnDnIDMeipNeeV60y2IpwLoZaSESduO0Rfxfsko3Ynm0sLVvqUwmEcOSNWNKOgBBpSQZ-wRLhAT8bSHAP8wCnlGQnSRM19g/s320/100_2367.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132533427491309746" /></a><br />Tonight I see<br />Through the dark just right<br />The light cuts through<br />The pane at night<br />The treat inside my pet store...<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-3344644944448126342007-11-04T15:39:00.000-08:002007-11-16T07:36:04.588-08:00Banana Peels, Flash Backs and Chocolate Shavings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiss7ovQfbVMWH9ZOSgqEBKJSsPiKJ3fi0P6pDrYDxJGfNxUPxWdLMyWnZmT4-QuC5HVGO3_xBATnCGgH9DpP3sk567oWwMboTSotHLmJS68f_MME2SI-TEKyTSrT2Wcve-mgJT0A/s1600-h/100_1743.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiss7ovQfbVMWH9ZOSgqEBKJSsPiKJ3fi0P6pDrYDxJGfNxUPxWdLMyWnZmT4-QuC5HVGO3_xBATnCGgH9DpP3sk567oWwMboTSotHLmJS68f_MME2SI-TEKyTSrT2Wcve-mgJT0A/s320/100_1743.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126970317990554914" /></a><br /><br />Count with me…H1, H2, H3<br /><br />Did you ever wake up and ask yourself, “where did my ball go? It was right near my paw when I laid my head down. Did it roll somewhere?” <br /><br />Then you lift your head, look down and see it….<br /><br />“There it is. Next to my <em>other </em>paw.” <br /><br />Or maybe instead of a ball, you wonder where is your squeaky toy? You know...the one that is shaped like an animal, that dares you constantly to tear its' limbs off and find that thing within that makes it squeak! <br /><br />This is what happened to me. Just the other morning. I woke up, looked around, did not see my bright green bug eyed friend...and asked under my breath (as to not wake anyone,) “where is Hamilton?” <br /><br />Side Kick and I picked Hamilton out together...at the ball and food store. Let me clarify to get it right. SK and I picked out the <em>first </em> Hamilton. H1. The next one...H2...who is missing in this story came later. After H1 disappeared, SK brought H2 home all excited. As SK removed the tags from H2, she excitedly talked about him to me, like I was a puppy. I was more excited about my SK being excited! Another turtle was great...don't get me wrong! But to see my SK's eyes light up like that....you should have seen it! Now THAT is something to live for. <br /><br />H2 was a nice replacement. A little different look in the eye. A bit more mischievous in nature. <br /><br />So anyway, I'm laying there, looking around for H2, trying to remember if I brought him to bed with me or not. Not being able to remember for sure, I get myself up. This is difficult because it is early and my SK is still sleeping. All cozy and warm under the covers. Snoring a bit too....although she would hate for anyone to know that. So don't tell anyone.<br /><br />I get up. Quietly exit the room. I walk. Walk the perimeter of the house. I notice a bit of stuffing on the rug, near the front door. The stuffing, I remember. It is a result of a rather rumpus wrestling match that H2 and I had gotten in to the night before. Yes. The stuffing is lying there like a fluffy, white cloud. I smile. Good times. Good times. <br /><br />So far, no sign of Hamilton himself. Suddenly an image flashes in my mind.. was that a limb of Hamilton being ripped from his body, thrown into the air and landing where I stand right now? Possibly. I do remember being near the front door during our wrestle. <br /><br />Wait a minute.....I do remember something now. Standing here on the rug just in front of the door. Suddenly an image. H2's big eyes lookin' at me. His soft, furry body in my mouth. I drop him. He stares at me still. This time I step on his left back leg and .........<br /><br />Yes, it all comes back to me. H2 and I wrestled indeed. And I won.<br /><br />I walk through the kitchen. Into the hallway near the bathroom and that is when I remember. The TRASH CAN! <br /><br />I turn around quickly making a second pass through the kitchen. The trash can looks to be nearly full. Because of my upbringing, I stand there. Looking into the trash can. I take a couple steps toward the can, peering closer and notice a better than good smell. Banana peel. Some chocolate shavings. Stinky vegetables that smell as though they were in the refrigerator too long. Some leftover chicken something that I do remember getting a taste of a few days ago. <br /><br />I can not see past the chicken. I lean in further and with my teeth begin to carefully remove the contents of the can. Purely for research purposes only. If some food item happens to stick in my teeth and I happen to swallow, then so be it. This is all for the greater cause of finding Hamilton. Possible ingesting of old, thrown away food, I just chalk it up to the hazards of research.<br /><br />Banana peel, yummy. Mmmmm a few chocolate shavings stuck to the peel! That is some good stuff right there. <br /><br />And there he is. Hamilton. My big, bright green stuffed turtle head. The big happy smiley face. Some detached green and fluffy white pieces. I lean in to rescue him from the horridness that is the trash can. Just then, I hear the bedroom door open. <br /><br />My SK is standing at the other end of the hallway. Just looking at me. <br /><br />The missing details of the previous night come flooding back to me. What began with jovality, ended in limbs being tossed, stuffing flying through the air. You can call it what you want. I see it as a good friendship ending in typical dog/stuffed animal fashion. <br /><br />My SK is still standing there. She's not mad. I can tell. She rarely gets mad.<br /><br />We stare at each other. I lick my mouth and taste the banana. SK shakes her head and slowly, she walks toward me.<br /><br />The next day, SK came home with H3.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-19617243838540547512007-09-08T23:55:00.000-07:002007-09-10T11:49:53.715-07:00How The Ball Drops<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2-hkazcBqLojMyrG-v7XlofgoowMA-j5JHi-KX4MpyNZ6NBhUq7So9xQf9GTGT9jrWvZYbFnDWw_oBXNkbMSQPiPj8z-YT2_gaJmsSsJ_0zMm4RO4GZeMCUAEuGiK2uUvdHybw/s1600-h/100_1846.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2-hkazcBqLojMyrG-v7XlofgoowMA-j5JHi-KX4MpyNZ6NBhUq7So9xQf9GTGT9jrWvZYbFnDWw_oBXNkbMSQPiPj8z-YT2_gaJmsSsJ_0zMm4RO4GZeMCUAEuGiK2uUvdHybw/s320/100_1846.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108095019967610130" /></a><br />There is the door.<br />I have my ball.<br />I am ready.<br />That is all.<br /><br />See me here.<br />Do not stall.<br />While I sit.<br />I hold my ball. .<br /><br />The car is waiting.<br />Right outside.<br />I know where it is.<br />It is our ride.<br /><br />Let us go.<br />I will whine and rush.<br />You will think<br />"Oh Haley, hush."<br /><br />I will be good.<br />You know I will.<br />I know where the car is.<br />I sit still.<br /><br />You are walking.<br />Walking around.<br />Whatever you need,<br />Cannot be found. <br /><br />Yes, lace your shoes.<br />Please comb your hair.<br />Walk over here.<br />Now walk over there.<br /><br />It is fine.<br />I can wait.<br />I hold my ball.<br />It is my fate.<br /><br />What are you looking for?<br />I lie down.<br />I hold my ball.<br />You walk around.<br /><br />Jingle jangle.<br />You found your keys.<br />You are so funny.<br />I almost sneeze.<br /><br />I hold it in.<br />Because if I did not.<br />My ball would blow<br />Like a juggernaut.<br /><br />Are you ready now?<br />You stand over me.<br />Grab the leash.<br />Your keys I see.<br /><br />Ball is in my mouth.<br />To the car we go.<br />It smells good out here.<br />The wind, it blows.<br /><br />Unlock the car.<br />Open the back door.<br />I scootch up toward you.<br />I want no more.<br /><br />You jingle jangle.<br />Get in your seat.<br />Turn on the car.<br />Adjust the beat.<br /><br />This, the best part.<br />To me, you say..<br />“Come on up here Haley."<br />I do not delay.<br /><br />In the front seat.<br />You lower the glass.<br />I sit back and think,<br />'Our moment at last..'<br /><br />With a sigh of calm,<br />My breathing stops.<br />I exhale.<br />And my ball, it drops.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-5163065712624691672007-08-29T20:16:00.000-07:002007-08-30T08:12:47.449-07:00She Came To Take Me<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYHC74BWz133eeqiryYoKbDM-qdTy0iHmWh1o9jRTx7jTIsrDfYUONF2RyxPbtXDOXQgmHjjwatgVCLS7UKPhZLj47N8szUVFFdhRrwr1Pxvwfj2TQtT7_Ypcv_5Rnc6TZV9dQQ/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYHC74BWz133eeqiryYoKbDM-qdTy0iHmWh1o9jRTx7jTIsrDfYUONF2RyxPbtXDOXQgmHjjwatgVCLS7UKPhZLj47N8szUVFFdhRrwr1Pxvwfj2TQtT7_Ypcv_5Rnc6TZV9dQQ/s320/untitled.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104509400880282882" /></a><br />On our way home from the dog park tonight, my SK was playing a song over and over again. Appropriately……the lyrics did not make any sense to me. So as I sat in my spot in the back seat …the following words came to me.<br /><br />At one point my SK looked back at me and smiled…as if she knew. I was re-writing the words.<br /><br /><br />She Came To Take Me (Chicago)<br />Re-written by Woof-yeah Haley (Sufjan Stevens)<br />-------------------------<br /><em>I fell in love again<br />All things ball.<br />All things ball.<br /><br />Drove to the dog store<br />A new ball.<br />A new ball.<br /><br />We brought our old balls with us.<br />I don’t mind.<br />I don’t mind.<br /><br />I could har-dly wait<br />to have the new ball <br />by my side<br />------------<br />chorus<br /><br />She came to ta-ake me<br />To the store.<br />For new balls. <br /><br />To the store she ta-akes me<br />All things me.<br />And new balls.<br /><br />I had my mind set<br />My new ball.<br />My new ball.<br /><br />She didn’t buy it<br />My new ball.<br />My new ball.<br />--------<br /><br />I rode to the dog park<br />In the car ….with side kick<br />I slept in the back seat<br />I don’t mind.<br />I don’t mind.<br /><br />I was in love with the ball.<br />Left behind.<br />Left behind.<br /><br />She made a bi- ig mistake<br />Leaving my <br />new ball behind.<br /><br />chorus (but different)<br /><br />She came to take me<br />To the store.<br />For new balls. <br /><br />But really she to-ok me <br />For some food.<br />My dog food.<br /><br />I had my mind set<br />My new ball.<br />I did not know.<br /><br />She did not buy it<br />My new ball.<br />I let it go.<br /><br />Instrumental break<br />--------------------<br /><br />If I was whining<br />In the car ….with side kick.<br />It was for the new ball<br />For myself.<br />You understand. <br /><br />She's made a lot of mistakes<br />She's made a lot of mistakes<br />She's made a lot of mistakes<br />Nothing new balls would not erase. <br /><br />-----chorus but different<br /><br />We went together<br />To the store.<br />To the store.<br /><br />To buy some do-og food<br />For me cause.<br />I eat and grow. <br /><br />I had my mind set<br />My new ball.<br />I did not know. <br /><br />I really li-ike food<br />My old balls.<br />Will be good.</em><br /><br />Repeat and fade.<br />--------<br /><br />The good news is…that when we got home…my faithful and loving sidekick gave me a new ball from a closet I had not been paying attention to! Turns out I have an entire HUGE BAG of new balls!!!! Good sidekick. Good girl.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-7122668307505817002007-08-25T17:28:00.000-07:002007-08-26T15:22:33.000-07:00Put A Little Sock In It.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNbRfPOdjuq_sWnJ2wlDYJuynAwUF0JmtU-_W2byGDRGyaCiPnK5GZENSVyj4dsvHdboZr6btYp6CJ8Q24gI9wSA6N8Hkmu680ZH2srxsK7v9gY67L6ii0-JbjrzJIqLaR59fwg/s1600-h/100_1725.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNbRfPOdjuq_sWnJ2wlDYJuynAwUF0JmtU-_W2byGDRGyaCiPnK5GZENSVyj4dsvHdboZr6btYp6CJ8Q24gI9wSA6N8Hkmu680ZH2srxsK7v9gY67L6ii0-JbjrzJIqLaR59fwg/s320/100_1725.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103138172441492658" /></a><br />Song stuck...take two.<br /> <br />Boy oh boy, the older I get...the more I realize that my dog brain is delicately susceptable to what comes out of my side kick's mouth. Music more than anything. Pry because my SK is addicted to the stuff. That is not a bad thing mind you....we love music in our house! But lately all I hear are two things coming from the SK..... <br /> <br />"Haley? Where did this sock come from? Have you been in the laundry room again?" <br /> <br />And "Hold up, wait a minute, put a little love in it."<br /> <br />And then she fades off for a second and then it starts all over again!!!!!! "Hold up, wait a minute, put a little love in it." "Hold up, wait a minute, put a little love in it."<br /> <br />Again and again. Over and over. I'm afraid that my SK's brain is stuck. Is that possible? Is it stuck on socks? Because I would understand that! Not quite sure what it is stuck on exactly. Either way.....should I be worried?<br /> <br />I wonder if seeing socks makes that silly song cycle start? OR...I wonder if the stuck song makes her suddenly see all of the socks that I bring to her to play with ...differently? I mean, what am I suppose to <em>hold up exactly</em>? And wait a minute? Wait a minute <em>for what</em>? Wait a minute for me to find another sock from the laundry room and bring it to her? <br /> <br />OK.<br /> <br />Without ever actually hearing this song before myself...I believe that my SK really did hear this song. For real. Somewhere. Sometime....probably recently. <br /><br />I stare at her while she sings it. Yesterday she looked at me and she said to me "I know. I know. I only heard it once even....and it was a "ring tone" at that!"<br /> <br />Ring tone? Now she's hearing rings? What about whistles? What about bells? Is she hearing bells too?<br /> <br />Here is a remedy that I have thought up for ...for my SK. In all my love for her...a little tribute to all the hold ups and wait a minutes...<br /> <br /> <br />Hold that ball up<br />or put a little sock in it<br />Throw up that ball<br />Or another sock will appear near it<br /> <br />(and in case anyone's wondering...yes. Yes I have been in the laundry room. AGAIN!"<em></em><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-40425279475370428642007-08-20T14:43:00.000-07:002007-08-27T14:34:48.563-07:00Wow. That was a loooooooong nap!I’m teasing….I really didn’t just wake up from a two year long nap Although sometimes I FEEL like I have slept for a very long time like a couple light years or an hour or something. Like after the dog park. I come home. Drink water. Fall asleep. And when I wake up, it feels like I have been asleep for days. Or at least a few seconds. At least for a long time rather than a short time. <br /><br />Hmmmm, not quite sure I have a clear cut concept of what time is. Or why I feel it necessary to end that last sentence with prepositions. Like that word? Prep-o-si-tion. <br /><br />I think, pretty much, that I get the gist of time. Like the timeliness of when my dish should be filled is important; when we should go for a ride is really important; when my sidekick and I should go to bed (which is not as easy as taking a rawhide from a puppy mind you…my sidekick stays up way toooooooo laaaaaaaate) anyway…..this is ultra important. <br /><br />The important things are easy to time because they appear in my dog psyche as urges and cravings. Things that should just be. But if you asked me what I have done over the past couple of years…while I haven’t been blogging….or has it been more like three days??….I don’t know.<br /><br />Who I have met, the treats I have missed, how many balls we’ve left at various dog parks (don’t make me go there btw…it could bring us all to tears)…If I had to remember I couldn’t do it! <br /><br />For example…I just woke up. I know. Shocking isn’t it? And I cannot recall whether I just woke up from my morning nap or if it is that time of the day when I am waiting for my sidekick to come home. You know…..from her time away from me. Which btw, I assume is spent hanging out in her own “side kick” type of dog park. Which I guess that would be a Side Kick park. That just sounds weird. What do side kicks do when they do not have us there to play with them? I don’t get it. <br /><br />Anyway….memory loss may be adversely in relation to just how important it is to remember something)<br /><br />Anyway…sheesh…..I feel longwinded on this one. That may prove in and of itself that I have indeed been gone for a long time! Anyway…Ops. I lost my point. <br /><br />Oh yeah. Time. Which oddly enough, spelled backwards…is emit. Emit is a great word. I emit things all the time. Mostly to my sidekick. And most often in the form of trance-like communication. Like “goooooooo to the cabinetttttt and get a rawwwwwhiiiiiiiiiide for meeeeeeeeeee” or “get up, get up, it’s time to get up.” or “whyyyyyy are you petting that other dog? I am the only dog in your wooooooooooorld.”<br /><br />You know…I like to keep it simple.<br /><br />Maybe I should think of time in more familiar dog friendly terms. Like, for instance rawhide terms. For example:<br /><br />Let’s say that the sleep we sleep at night with our sidekicks when everything is dark and the covers are warm and you can possibly share a pillow now and then… or take up most of the room down at the end of the bed for a few hours before being rudely awakened to move over……let’s say that this kind of sleep is like one of those big white rawhides. You know the ones. They are mysteriously shaped like bones? All twisted in the middle and knotted at the ends. It takes time to soften and chip away at this type of rawhide. Time passes while we chew and gnaw. Maybe even take a break in the middle to do whatever. But as most of us know. These take a while to get through. That measure of time right there is a long time.<br /><br />Next we have medium time. Medium time would be our bigger flat rawhide ‘chip’. We can often get through one of these in one sitting but it may take some effort. Softening the edges, taking little chunks away until finally we have a pliable gummy outer covering with a somewhat resistant middle…which with experience, we know, will eventually gum up and become manageable only then having the potential to get stuck in the roof of your mouth if not sliding down the windpipe only to make us cough and choke loudly upsetting the SK’s! <br /><br />Puppies… do not attempt these medium times on your own. There is a certain feeling <br />of panic that you may encounter when the rawhide gets stuck in the roof of your mouth. So puppies…just to be safe… DO NOT attempt to eat one of these medium time until you are the ripe age of 10 months or so. Maybe better make it a year. <br /><br />Next is short time. In case you are wondering. Short time is NOT what it is taking to read this entire blog entry. WHOOF! But stick with me here dogs. A good and well rounded point is right around the corner. Sitting there with my favorite gunky tennis ball.<br /><br />A short time. Let’s imagine that one of those little rawhide sticks your SK gives you when she is in one of her ‘funny haha’ moods. For her benefit, you wag your tail in a happy gesture, lie down, stick the tiny piece of hyde between your paws and in five licks, three nice chomps and two gnaws and your done.<br /><br />And that my friends…..is time. Well, my version of what time is anyway. I have heard many a SK say that we dogs have no concept of time. And I wonder how they could think that. I mean…we are all alive and breathing and living moment to moment. SK’s and dogs both feel things. Emotionally and physically. We worry. We feel excitement, joy, pain and relief. How would it be possible that if we can experience all of these things, like one another.. that we would not feel the affects of time as well? <br /><br />On that note. I’m out of time. I’ve timed out. Time to go. I feel sleepy. And hungry. My time continuum is fuzzy. Is it morning yet? Is my SK coming home soon? Ops…wait….there she is at the door. Better get off Lappy and go lie down right in front of the door. <br /><br />She likes it when she has to step over me to come in to the house.<br />:) Haley<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-1121698128733389092005-07-18T06:25:00.000-07:002007-08-29T14:48:51.266-07:00We Are The DogsWhile riding in the car the other day, my sidekick was changing the music station every 2 seconds the way she does sometimes, trying to find that 'oh so perfect' song to listen to, and she ended up just shutting the radio off. Which is fine by me, because the speakers are in the back of the car, which is where I sit. And I prefer (in case anyone is wondering *eh hem*) quiet. <br /><br />So we're driving around all afternoon. She parks, leaves the windows and the sunroof open, and I lay down and wait for her return. Then we drive a little bit, and then she parks, leaves the windows, etc. and I lay down....well sometimes I get up into the front seat and sit in her spot.....and wait for her return.<br /><br />Throughout this period of time, driving, parking, waiting, she is off and on with the radio. At one stop, she returns to the car with some packages (and a nice chewy for me. Good sidekick, good sidekick.) She's humming something.<br /><br />Over and over, humming. Sometimes, interjecting words. Like that word? <em>In-ter-jec-ting. </em>At one point, she just sings out loudly, really loud: <br /><br />"We are the world. <br />We are the children. <br />We are the ones who make a better day, <br />so let's start giving." <br /><br />Or living. Living or giving, I couldn't tell for sure. Anyway, sounded like a nice enough song. Until........<br /><br />two days later, it's still stuck in my head. This has never happened to me before! At one point, yesterday, I thought it was gone, but ohhhh noooo, there it was.... in the back of brain, quietly, whispering. My sidekick's voice. It may be permanently lodged in my brain, it's hard to know for sure with these things. But one thing I do know, is that I came up with my own version. For us dogs. And this is how it goes. <br /><br />"We are the dogs.<br />We are the lap dogs.<br />We are the ones who keep you company,<br />so come and feed us.<br /><br />There's a ball, it's rolling,<br />it's rolling near your chair.<br />Why don't you just pick it up,<br />and throw it there.<br /><br />We are the Chows.<br />We are the Poodles.<br />We are the ones who lick up spi-ilt milk,<br />and yucky noodles.<br /><br />We don't need to be brushed.<br />We want to go for rides.<br />So get your shoes on ri-ight now,<br />let's go ouside.<br /><br />We are the muts.<br />We are the Bulldogs.<br />We are the Collies and the Terriers,<br />who bring you dead frogs.<br /><br />We are so darn cu-uute.<br />You love us and that is why,<br />you should save us half that hamburger,<br />and half those fries.<br /><br />We are the Shephards.<br />We are the Bichons.<br />We are the ones who sleep in hal-lways,<br />and don't like Dijon.<br /><br />We protect and keep you,<br />safe from the mail-man.<br />We bark at everything in site,<br />just cause we can.<br /><br />We are the Pit Bulls.<br />We are Retrievers.<br />We are the ones that will chew your socks<br />and eat phone receivers.<br /><br />We are black and yellow<br />we're spotted and we're small.<br />We want to be with you all the time<br />Happy, one and all.<br /><br />(everybody)<br />We are the dogs<br />We are the lap dogs<br />We are the ones who keep you company<br />so come and feed us.<br /><br />We are the dogs....."<br /><br />now, I'm afraid, it may be stuck in your heads too!<br />:)Haley<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-1119570838383435082005-06-23T16:44:00.000-07:002005-06-23T16:59:12.153-07:00Dogs of the North WindOK, here is what is on my mind. I'm HOT! And it's HOT AROUND HERE!!!!! I'm pretty sure I am not in Kansas anymore. Our North Winds are hotter than Hades and all the trips to the river and cool baths my sidekick is offering, are just not the same as say, laying around in the snow. Ahh the crystal mornings with the dew drop falling. The snow. The beautiful crisp yet delicate snow. Tonight I will wish for a miracle out of nowhere. For snow to appear in a heat index of 100.<br /><br />There is an upside to the heat...more trips to the river and more chances to trade tennis balls with other ball loving dogs. Except if you run into the 'selfish dog'. I shall explain. Yesterday, while at the river bank, my sidekick was stubbornly wishing I would just bring the ball wouldn't so she wouldn't have to walk a whole 5 feet to go pick the ball up herself!....She and I just stood there. Staring at each other. Meanwhile Cereus (a very <em>serious</em> black lab mix) came from out of nowhere. Got right under me and took my ball!!!!!!!!!!!!! And he didn't even offer the other ball that he had stashed in his rather large mouth, up for exchange!<br /><br />*sigh* dog etiquette escapes some.<br /><br />Anyway, carry on my wayward friend, your karma is right behind you. Speaking of karma, I think I must be doing well with my diet karma, because today my sidekick brought home some doggy ice cream for me. She really can be sweet sometimes..and speaking of sweet, that ice cream was tasty! Maybe I'm officially OFF of my diet. Just in time for all those summer bbq's.<br /><br />Well, everyone does need something to believe in.<br /><br />I do <em>feel</em> thinner.<br /><br />That is all. My sidekick is going to the ice box again to retrieve an ice cube for me. Bless her unconditional un-airconditioned heart.<br /><br />:)Haley<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-1117903941182842112005-06-04T09:29:00.000-07:002005-06-04T09:52:21.186-07:00Rave On!Hello all! Well, now that summer is fully upon us here in the great midwest, I am spending more time outside. More time = finding balls. ALL OVER THE PLACE! Some I find just on the <em>edge</em> of someone's lawn and sometimes my sidekick lets me pick them up. Others I find in the street up against a curb, or laying on grates near gutters. My favorites are those hiding in the tall grass up against fences at parks and school yards. <br /><br />I'm thinking of developing some sort of ball/bag-harness thingy I can strap onto my back, so that I may carry all these treasures home with me! I usually end up carrying one in my mouth and the sidekick (depending on how dirty the treasure is...) carries it herself.<br /><br />Nice girl I got there.<br /><br />But then for the rest of the night, I just think about all the balls out there that I was unable to bring home. *Sigh* But today is another day, and so off we go. And it's been raining for a few hours, so if I find any balls today, they should nice and ripe!<br /><br />:)Haley<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-1116190046209448022005-05-15T13:23:00.000-07:002005-05-15T13:47:26.213-07:00Got to, got to, got to!I have neglected my Blogging Post for a week now! Yikes!! I have been enjoying everyone else's work though. Selfish....I am selfish, yes I admit it! I got to, have to, feel the need to ....get a camera soon! Soooo many missed opportunities. Especially last weekend when Peroshki and Cal brought their packs over! So many humans and three dogs. We played outside, we played inside, we got to eat things off the floor when noone was looking. We restled, played tag and all took little naps. Until one stirred and the other two had to check out what was happening without them. An especially good photo op was missed when Peroshki ran to seek solitude on the couch, only to find that he was more easily found by Cal and I AND at eye level!!! He'd bury his face in the corner of the couch thinking he was *hiding*. He's so cute.<br /><br />It's still *chilly* here where we live and I believe my human has come down with a "cold." Sneezing and coughing and keeping me up all night. If she wasn't so cute, I'd put her outside to sleep.<br /><br />j/k - More later. Maybe I'll have a camera by then.<br /><br />:)Haley<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-1115393709692914982005-05-06T08:19:00.000-07:002007-08-27T13:52:49.425-07:00ballicious<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDEVkFu5FhX2YjS0vq9-V6T4u0wiJNfZH8rUFVIKL8LpBLKcri6I7QwOoRiHZgq2NlqNVHm7xoBN8RnHXIgKfsrJj4lwXTR77ksCcO8jCvtjsVyF1v7ZN_U6J2dk8WtK70vKdNg/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDEVkFu5FhX2YjS0vq9-V6T4u0wiJNfZH8rUFVIKL8LpBLKcri6I7QwOoRiHZgq2NlqNVHm7xoBN8RnHXIgKfsrJj4lwXTR77ksCcO8jCvtjsVyF1v7ZN_U6J2dk8WtK70vKdNg/s320/untitled.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103486099152207042" /></a><br />This morning I woke up and was pleasantly relieved when my yucky old tennis ball that I had gone to sleep next to, was still there by my right elbow. I smelled it, nudged it with my nose, and somehow while I was thinking about all the places I wanted to take it this morning, I fell back asleep, and dreamed.<br /><br />My yellow ball<br />is like the sun<br />I wake and think<br />of all the fun<br />we'll have today<br />for it is like<br />a summer day<br />so clear and bright<br /><br />my tennis ball<br />i keep so near<br />because sometimes<br />it disappears<br />and this i think<br />is very weird<br />for I do not move it<br />and this is clear<br /><br />ahh my yellow ball<br />well it used to be<br />is really brown<br />and a bit less fuzzy<br />but that is when<br />it tastes the best<br />and for this reason<br />I cannot rest<br /><br />okay i think<br />i'm safe for now<br />i'll just take a nap<br />and let my eyelids bow<br />and it will stay right<br />near my head<br />and it shall not move<br />it will be like lead<br /><br />ahh my tennis ball<br />i love it so<br />brings such joy<br />for all who know<br />the simple joys<br />of the tennis ball<br />so cute, so dirty<br />it has it all.<br /><br />:)Haley<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-1114975262652629472005-05-01T11:08:00.000-07:002005-05-01T14:46:05.460-07:00Size Really Doesn't MatterMy weekend is coming to a close and it has been a good one. My pal Peroshki got a bath yesterday and it was ...well, how should I say? It was entertaining. For me anyway.<br /><br />When I get a bath, I hop into the bathtub and my sidekick uses the spray thingy and she covers me with oatmeal shampoo while feeding me treats when I stand still, fighting the urge to shake, shake, shake! It’s so hard not to shake sometimes. Peroshki's bath was different. First of all, I don't know how *his* pack normally gives him baths, but he does not like that spray thingy for sure. He kept looking up and turning around staring at it, wondering what the heck it was going to do to him! The sidekick lathered him up and he shook and shook and snorted and squirmed and sneezed and got the sidekick all wet and sudsy. I kept looking at him whispering when I could "Just stand stiiiiill. It will go faster that way. You'll be out in noooooo time. Just stop shaking so much....you gotta settle down!"<br /><br />Well, after his bath, the sidekick was all exhausted so I did not get a bath. Which is fine with me, because I doubt even a BATH will get me treats these days. Soon after he was dry, Peroshki got all feisty! He has this little stuffed bear that he brought from his house. He would take in his mouth and bring it to me, drop it, look up at me and as I would make a move to nab it, he would snatch it up and start running around the house!<br /><br />He'd run and run, his little muscular legs taking him as fast as he could! And being a rather small dog, he could go into places where I couldn't! At one point he ran under a plant stand and as I waited on the other side for him to run out, I realized just how small he is! When he did finally come out from underneath the stand, he was running at top speed (and still, remember...it took him nearly 8 seconds to run the length of a very narrow plant stand) clinching onto that bear in mouth! He was so happy to be playing with his cute little bear, or just to be out of the bath or something! Ahhhhh, little Peroshki.<br />__________________________________________<br /><br />Today is the last day Peroshki stays with us. Tomorrow his pack returns and our lives will return to the way they were before he stayed with us. We will see each other sometimes in the back yard or while we are out on walks. But I will miss my tiny friend. I have told him how easy and fun blogging is, and how he can probably use his pack's computer to blog...of course keeping aware of the safety issues that go along with using keyboards, and hopping up onto high places with no safety net to catch him, etc. (He forgets how small he is I think.) But I understand, because he has some pretty grand ideas about things. Big wonderful ideas come from little bundles of fur. That's why I have encouraged him to do the blogging thing.<br /><br />Peace to the all the small things in our lives that bring us such large bouts of joy!<br /><br />:)Haley<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-1114697593858233872005-04-28T08:23:00.000-07:002007-08-26T15:23:40.701-07:00Poopy Pants Peroshki<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMonY-NX5cUcBLiylafqkZoFUrF3JSBDg472P3vNAfJCQQMZcy3EF-FGFRxpYw4yDnj7ZpacjsC96OgKqFabkSpQ2x1cuyEYjgcweFWwtKiWvV2F9Aa_1HJVNtnILNp_7wonY9aw/s1600-h/Oct+2005.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMonY-NX5cUcBLiylafqkZoFUrF3JSBDg472P3vNAfJCQQMZcy3EF-FGFRxpYw4yDnj7ZpacjsC96OgKqFabkSpQ2x1cuyEYjgcweFWwtKiWvV2F9Aa_1HJVNtnILNp_7wonY9aw/s320/Oct+2005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103135956238367890" /></a><br />I call him 'poopie pants' not because of his method or frequency or amount of poop that he poops, or even that he wears pants to poop in (because he doesn't), but because his personality just emits that "na na na boo boo, I'm gonna take your raaawhiiide. Na na na boo boo, I'm gonna eat befoooooore you." "Na na na boo boo, I'm gonna sit closer to your siiiiiiide kick." And so on.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, he's cute.....and even though he smells kinda funny, we really like him. I'm not sure how long he's staying with us, but with the passing of each day, we become better friends...and even though he's so <em>teeny tiny</em> and I've lost him a few times while trying to restle with him, he and I are beginning to <em>understand</em> eachother. The rules we have set are as follows:<br /><br />a. I get to sleep with the sidekick.<br />b. He gets to eat his food first.<br />c. I am not allowed to eat his 'special' food.<br />d. He is allowed to sleep atop the couch if and when placed there by the sidekick.<br /><br />hmmmmm, so far this seems slanted...anyway, continuing on!<br /><br />e. On our walks, we get to stop <em>everywhere</em> he wants to because he has special 'pooping needs'. (Again, appropriately referencing poop.)<br />f. I get to eat rawhides outside while he eats his 'special' food.<br />g. I get to sleep with the sidekick. Did I mention this already? Well, that seems to be the most important.<br /><br />That is all for now. It seems he's trying to jump on the bed (which I believe will be physically impossible for him), but I better go make sure he hasn't stacked matchbooks high enough to bounce up there. He's small, but he's smart, or at least mighty.<br /><br />:)Haley<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-1114348573813460532005-04-24T05:47:00.000-07:002005-04-24T06:16:13.816-07:00The Day The Treats StoppedMy sidekick brought me to that place where other humans bring their dogs and cats... and it's all weird and sterile and everyone oogles all over you telling you how cuuuuuute you are while they poke and prod and then say what a good dog you are.<br /><br />Really a confusing place.<br /><br />That's where I found myself last week, and since then, I have noticed a great decrease in the amount and frequency of my treats! I think it has something to do with this platform they get me to stand on when I go there. But this time, my sidekick says with surprise in her voice, "Ten pounds????" "Huh, ten pounds. Huh." "Gosh, ten pounds!" And, I'm like whatever, lets just keep this process moving people, so we can get out of here and go play ball or something.<br /><br />And since then, the ball playing has continued, even with an increase of outings on the weekends....and yet, the treats have been discontinued! Well, except for teeny tiny rawhides once a day or so.<br /><br />I am connecting this treat disappearance and the repeated "ten pound" (whatever that means) comment, to the realization that I am tiring more quickly than I did last year. Hmmmmmm. Anyone else experienced the sudden decrease of treats? Hopefully it's not just me.<br /><br />Good time for an ending....sidekick is getting the leash!<br /><br />:)Haley<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-1114109966235498032005-04-21T11:02:00.000-07:002005-04-21T11:59:26.236-07:00Pooper Scoopers!Ahhhh, pooper scoopers...so many ways to deliver the yard from the evil presence of poop. There are shovels, claws on the end of long handles, designer poopy bags that sidekicks can carry in style on walks through the neighborhood, and then there are just plain old baggies.<br /><br />My sidekick prefers plastic bags left over from shopping or whatever she does when she leaves me behind at home. (hahahaha, I incorporated "behind" into this.) My sidekick doesn't mind picking up my poop.. I know this because she told me so. She doesn't mind picking up Doodles' poop either! Doodles is a rescued dog that moved into the place next door to me last fall. Doodles is a black lab (well, that's what she *says*) mixed with something very large, like Great Dane or a city bus, or something. Anyway, even though Doodles' droppings' are MUCH larger than mine, my sidekick just keeps pickin' everyone's poop!<br /><br />Maybe she likes poop! I don't know. It doesn't matter really...at all. I'm glad she doesn't make a big deal about poop. It's not like we have a choice about the matter anyway. I poop, and it needs to be picked up!<br /><br />That's my scoop on poop. (Doo wap diddy, diddy diddy whoop)<br />:)Haley<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-1113677934602874732005-04-16T11:39:00.000-07:002005-04-16T12:00:18.053-07:00Saturday's Alright for NappingIt's raining outside. My sidekick and I slept in late today. I think the absence of the sun's presence prolonged our awakening. But that's just fine with me. It's what I do most of every day anyway. Nap, eat, nap, drink water, look out the windows, nap in a different place, watch t.v., nap, listen to the radio, look at my collection of balls and sometimes when I'm really bored, I move them around to different places in the house to see if my sidekick notices (hee hee.)<br /><br />Speaking of my sidekick, she's taking a snooze herself, on the couch. So I am sneaking on the computer to talk a little about rain. I like the rain. It's cleansing and at the same time gets the balls that I left outside nice and squishy.<br /><br />I wish I could go outside right now in the rain. Water is good. Of course it's not the lake up north where I like to chase the ducks and loons, or the river where the sand smells fishy, but being out in the rain is a different kind of good wet experience. Feeling the mud in my paws and the way my fur repels the wetness, keeping me nice and warm. Kind of like my sidekicks super bright yellow, hooded thing she wears when she's outside with me.<br /><br />I wish she'd wake up. Right now! So we could go outside. From the back window, I think I see a tennis ball I left near the fence! Shoot! Didn't she say she was going to go get a camera this weekend? And I'm nearly out of treats!!!!!<br /><br />Drastic times call for drastic measures my fellow dog pals. I am going to sign off, and just go stand in front of her while she lies on the couch and breathe at her, stare at her, maybe throw a whimper or deep sigh her way.....that usually gets her up.<br /><br />What do you guys like to do when it's raining? Stay in, go out?<br /><br />Time to go wake the human.<br /><br />:)Haley<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-1113581532153193922005-04-15T08:42:00.000-07:002005-04-15T13:10:15.646-07:00Take Me OutHello my fellow ball fans! My sidekick has been walking around humming a song ever since going to that "baseball game" with Cal's sidekicks....and yeah, I am still suspicious that whatever that "baseball" game was, why couldn't they bring Cal and I? I mean, a big field, balls being thrown, eating hotdogs!!!!!! Come on people!<br /><br />So, this song is now stuck in my head, and I'm sure it's because of the word "ball" being used. After about twenty times of hearing "ball", I finally stopped running to the back door with ball in mouth, ready for action!<br /><br />So here is MY version of this famous ball song. I hope you like it. (Feel free to sub out the word "ball" for any of your treats or toys of choice.)<br /><br />"Take me out to the ball store.<br />Take me out to get balls.<br />Buy me some small ones<br />and big ones too.<br />I don't care if they're<br />red or they're blue..<br />So just take me out to the ball store<br />If they're not open I'll cry.<br />And I'll bark, snort, and howl at the moon<br />Without a new ball, I'll just dieeeeeeee!<br /><br />Take me out to the park now,<br />there's a ball I left there.<br />It's not my favorite,<br />but still you know.<br />It's a good ball<br />and we really should go.<br /><br />So let's go, go out<br />to the park now.<br />I really think we should go.<br />Cause' it's one, two, three times I said<br />Let's just go, now, go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"<br /><br />Thank you, thank you very much.<br />:)Haley<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-1113522906449055092005-04-14T16:41:00.000-07:002005-04-14T16:55:06.450-07:00In My Next LifeI think that in my next life, I would greatly appreciate the chance to balance the scales of what I didn’t or couldn’t do in this life, with what I could and would do in the next. If there is a next. Which, after what I realized today, I hope there is.<br /><br />Sometimes the things my sidekick does make me feel so philosophical! Yes, it does last only for just a minute, but still…she’s my homey you know? So what she goes through, I want to be there for her when I can.<br /><br />Today felt like another great day, nothing unusual or unexpected happened, until she got home.<br /><br />Sweeping and cleaning is not that out of the ordinary for her, but tonight seemed to go on and on and on and on. And the fur!!! Oh my gosh! It was under the bed, the couch, tables, behind the refrigerator, under my dog dishes, in the bath tub, under the radiators, behind the t.v……! It was everywhere!<br /><br />When is it that we shed exactly? I am unaware when this happens. It seems to happen when I sleep or possibly when I get up to go for a drink of water. I’m not sure. What I do know, is that although I have tried to catch myself when I do shed, to possibly hold it, and wait until I go outside to do it, it just doesn’t work that way. Shedding is unavoidable, unpredictable, and an unshakeable reality for most of us dogs.<br /><br />I was watching her thinking, “You should really be outside, getting some sun. You look pale." But she continued, and every few minutes or so, she would say something that I couldn’t understand. She kept looking my way and then she would look at the fur in the dust pan, then in the trash, then she would look back at me!<br /><br />Well it didn’t take a Poodle to understand what she was doing AND more importantly what she was thinking about! She was cleaning up after me! And talking OUT LOUD about it! To whom? Well, to no one, except me!<br /><br />So, I have thought about this and I have decided that in order to make it right in my next life, I would like my human to have someone to clean the house for her. At first I was going to wish to be a dust mop or a can of pledge or some sort of modern vacuum cleaner, but then I realized that if we indeed keep becoming something else in each life, to reach perfection and good. Well, then I would have to ask you my fellow dog-mates! Would you agree that we are done!!?<br /><br />Any fur stories from you guys?<br />Haley<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-1113158404894820732005-04-10T11:40:00.000-07:002005-04-10T13:43:04.226-07:00Newly Discovered Used TreasuresToday, my side-kick found, outside in the garden, under some of last year's mulch and semi-composted leaves, a dirty, ragged, stinky, wet tennis ball that I almost flipped my lab-lid when she found it!!!! What a treasure! I ran to her, tail wagging and eyes wide open, wondering if the excitement of finding that ball was as wonderful to her as it was to me!<br /><br />It was nothing short of a spring weekend miracle!! A great way to start this season - and as I stood there for what seemed minutes, my brown eyes beamed a hole through my sidekick's psyche, eliminating any doubt that yes, indeed, giving me that ball would be the best idea of the day!!!!!!! And she did.<br /><br />Do you think it is only a coincidence that *ball* spelled backwards is *llab*? I don't think so either!<br /><br />For all of you dogs everywhere, I wish you new and old treasures to find and smell on this fine spring day.<br /><br />"A ball by any other name would smell as sweet"<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12059454.post-1113155012207851012005-04-10T10:43:00.000-07:002005-04-10T10:43:32.206-07:00Hey everyone! Thanks for coming to Haley's corner, where the smell of newly opened tennis ball containers are likely to be wifting through the air at any moment! <a href='http://www.hello.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif' alt='Posted by Hello' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=170836338</div>Haley the Fabulous Ball-loving Black Labhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738555117189235485noreply@blogger.com0